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W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS. ufiucmon FILED ma. 14.1918.

1,316,922. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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w. A. PEVTERSON.

OPERATING MEC ANISM FOR TRACTORS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14- l9l8.

1,3 1 6 ,922. Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES BY W ATTORNEY W. A. PETERSON.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TBACTORS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14,1918.

1 ,3 1 6, 922 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY rm! cam-In PLANodnAPn co WAllllm'muN. u c.

W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14.1918.

1 ,3 1 6,922 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 4- ATTORNEY W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

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ATTORNEY W. A. PETERSON.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TBACTORS. APPLICATION FILED ma. 14.1918.

1 ,3 1 6, 922 Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6- INVENTOR ATTORNEY W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED M'AR. 14' I918.

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I0 SHEETS-SHEET 7 Q Q l/W/W/Mfi/ZWM BY l/ WITNESSES fflfid' W 646M ATTORNEY W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, l9l8. 23,

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W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR morons.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14.1918.

ATTORNEY rm: mumnn m ANOURAFII cm. WASHINGTON, In t- W. A. PETERSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. I9l8.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

WITNESSES ATTORN EY WILLIAM A. PETERSON, F CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application filed March 14, 1918. Serial No. 222,468.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PETER- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenbur and State of North Carolina, have inventec certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tractor engines, and more particularly to a tractor especially adapted to be used in connection with agricultural operations.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a tractor which is of comparatively simple construction and operation which is capable of developing comparatively great power. A further object is to provide a tractor, the bull-wheel shaft of which is rotated by means of lever rods or shafts thereto, these shafts being of relatively great length and being reciproeated by means rotated by an internal combustion engine mounted on the tractor frame, the shafts because of their relatively great length rendering it possible to develop relatively great power from a small initial power. A further object is to provide speed changing means whereby the throw of the lever-shafts may be accurately adjusted within comparatively wide limits thus permitting accurate and minute adjustment of the speed. Another object is to provide simple and eflicient gearing and shifting means therefor, whereby the direction of rotation of the bull wheel shaft may be further readily reversed so as to reverse the direction of travel of the tractor. A further object is to provide simple and efficient clutch mechanisms whereby the operation of the drive gearing may be readily controlled, and the bull wheels may be optionally con nected to the bull-wheel shaft for rotation therewith. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a tractor constructed in accordance with my invention, the hood for the drive gearing and the hood for the lever shaft operating mechanism being both partly broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side view,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the drive shaft and disks showing the speed changing mechanism and associated parts, also showing the main clutch and gearing in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the drive gearing and the bullwheel clutches, and associated parts,

Fig. 5 is an inside or back view of the gear changing mechanism for the drive gears, and associated parts, the tractor frame being shown in section,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the gear changing rods and associated parts,

Fig. 7 isa vertical section taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 4,

1 Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 4, partly broken awa Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10--10 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 13-43 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 14 is a side view of the gear changing control mechanism and associated parts,

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 16 is a section taken on line 16 16 of Fig. 14,

Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 1717 of Fig. 15,

Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive are semi-diagrammatic views of the driving disks showing the four relative positions of the crank shafts and associated parts,

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of the levers and racks for operating the bull-wheel clutches, and the gear shifting and speed changing mechanism,

Fig. 23 is a side view of the same,

Fig. 24 is a section taken substantially on line 2-'l24 of Fig. 23,

Fig. 25 is a detail of the means for locking the adjusting screw of one of the drive disks against rotation,

Fig. 26 is a section taken substantially on line 2626 of Fig. 1, showing the steering gear,

Fig. 27 is a section taken on line 2727 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 28 is a detail of the attaching hook.

The main frame of the tractor is of I-beam construction having the side beams l and 2, front end beam 3, and the back end beams 4 which converge rearwardly to produce a substantially V-shapc frame rigidly secured to the body of the main frame. A cross "beam is secured in the main frame adjacent the forward ends of end beams 4. This cross beam supports a bearing block 6 in which is rotatably mounted a steering 7 standard 7 provided at its upper end with a steering wheel 8. This shaft is so positioned as to permit the wheel, to be readily grasped by a person seated in the seat 9 supported by bars 10 secured to cross beam 5 and a cross bar 11 which is secured to the end bars 4 a short distance from the apex of the V outlined by these bars. A steering chain 12 is wrapped about standard 7 inter-j mediate collar 13 secured thereon and a pin- V ion 14 secured on the standard adjacent the upper face of cross beam 5. The ends of thischain are secured to the opposite ends of a steering beam 15 which issecured on the upper end of the stem 16 of a fork 17 in which isrotatably mounted-the steering "'wheel 18; "Stem 17 of the fork projects 23. This lever is provided with a forwardly projecting finger 24which is adapted to en through a block 19 which is secured between I-bars 20 secured to cros bar 11 and to end beams 4, bars 20 being equidistant from the center of the frame; A locking lever 21 is ro-ckably mounted in a supporting bracket 22 secured on cross beam 5 and center beam gage the teeth of pinion 14 so as to secure this pinion against rotary movement.

, this means, the steering standard 17 is locked against rotation thus locking. the chain 12 against movement so as to secure the steering wheel 18 in adjustment. The wheel 18 may be readily turned by means of standard 7 and hand wheel 8 when the lever 21' is moved into inoperative position, thus providing simple and eflicient means for steering the tractor. To permit groiund workingimplements, or vehicles to be readily attached to the tractor, I provide an attaching hook 25 which is mounted on a securing bolt 26 provided at each end with a plate 27 which may be secured to the flanges of the I-beams 4. This hook is positioned at the apex of the V formed by the frame beams 4, which is at the transverse center of the'tractor. vehicles to be readily secured to the tractor, the rearwardly converging beams permitting slight necessary movementor play of an implement or vehicle thus secured.

.For operating the tractor, an internal combustion engine designated generally by A is mounted on the tractor frame in ad- Vance of the operators seat 9. This engine may be of any suitable or standard construction, and of any type desired. The crank shaft28 of the engine is extended and is 1 braced and supported bybearing blocks 29 secured on the side bars of the tractor frame throughwhich thi shaft projects. A gear wheel 30 is secured on one end of shaft 28 This enables implements or A cover or cap 37 is secured to the outer end of hub 38 of disk 35. so as to rotate therewith. C'ap 37 is provided with a central opening through its outer end which receives the bodyportion of a disk 39 provided at its inner end with an outer annular flange 40 which cooperates with a securing plate 41 secured to the outer end of the disk adjacent the outer'face of the outer end of cap 37 to secure disk 39 in the cap so as to be freely rotatable therein while. positively.

preventing movement of disk 39 longitudi nally of the cap. Disk 39 is centrally bored and threaded to receive a threaded adjusting screw 42 the inner end of which is secured by loose nut connections to the outerv end of stud shaft 32 so as to permit independent rotation of the shaft; The outer end of screw 42 issecured to the'lower end of an arm 43 the upper end of which is connected by a rod 44 to the upper end of an arm 45 secured on the shaft 46 of a hand lever 47 which is rockably supported by a segmental rack 48 secured to sidebar 2 of the frame,

this hand lever being provided with a spring pressed detent whichcooperate with rack V 48 to secure the lever in adjustment, in the usual manner. By rocking lever 47 downwardly and forwardly the. screw 42 will be rotated in such direction as to force disk35 inwardly so as to bringlthe friction rim or band 36 into tight frictional engagement with the inner surface of the rim .of gear 31. o By this means, rotation of gear 31 will be imparted to the disk 35. As willbe noted more particularly from Fig. 3, the outerend portion 32 of shaft 32 is squared and fits into a corresponding bore in hub 38 of disk 35 so that rotation of this disk will be imparted to the shaft. By means of the hand lever 47 and the associated parts, shaft 32 may thus be readily connected toor disconnected from, the crank shaft 28 of the engine A.

v Stub shaft 32 is in axial alinement. with a plurality of stub shafts 49 which are rotatably supported in bearing blocks 50 secured on the beams 51 secured to the cross beam 53 which cooperates with beam 54 .to support. the engine. Stub. shafts49 are in axial alinement with a stub shaft 55 rotatably supported by a bearing block- 56 securedon 130' 52 of the main frame and to the cross beam side beam 1 of the main frame. Drive disks ,57 are secured on the stub shafts 32, 49 and side beams 1 and 2 of the main frame. Each pair of disks 57 supports a crank shaft 58 which extends between the disks. This crank shaft is provided at each end, as will be noted more clearly from Figs. 18 to 21 of the drawings, with a squared block 59 which is slidable in a substantially rectangu- .main frame of the tractor.

. screw 61 is threaded through block 59 and end wall of slot 60 as shown.

has its outward movement positively prevented by a collar 62 secured on the stem of the screw and in engagement with the outer end wall ofslot 60. The inner end of this screw is preferably pointed so as to insure proper centering of the same, and fits into a corresponding recess formed in the inner Screw 61 projects beyond the periphery of disk 57 and is provided with a pinion 63 secured on the outer end of the screw. This pinion is adapted to be engaged by an element of a speed changing mechanism to be later described so as to cause predetermined rotation of screw 61 thus moving the block 59 toward or away from the center of disk 57 so as to vary the throw of crank shaft 58. I have shown eight disks or four pairs of disks which support four crank shafts 58, though it is obvious that the number of pairs of disks may be varied to suit circumstances. A connecting rod 64 has its upper end loosely secured to the central ortion of crank 58, the lower end of this roc being securedto an eye 65 in a clevis 66 which is rigidly secured in the forward end of a tubular lever shaft 67 which is preferably though not necessarily, of flattened elliptical cross sec tion so as to give great strength for a minimum of weight. By rotating stub shaft 32 in the manner previously described, rotation .will be imparted to the pairs of disks 57 which will result in imparting vertical reciprocation to the rearward ends of the lever shafts 67. As will be noted more clearly from Figs. 18 to 21 of the drawings, which illustrated the relative positions of the four sets of disks in successive order as considered from the lowermost set in Fig. 3, the pairs of disks are so relatively disposed that crank shafts 58 are spaced 90 apart. By arranging the sets of pairs of disks in this manner, I insure that there will always be at least one of the lever shafts 67, the rearward or inner end of which is being raised. In Fig. 21, as will be noted, the

shaft has been raised through half of its upward movement whereas the shaft in Fig. 18 has reached its lowermost point and 1s about to start on its upward travel, the shaft in Fig. 19 being at the middle of its downward movement, and the shaft in Fig.20,

being shown as raised into its highest position and starting on its downward movement. When shaft 67 shown in Fig. 21 is raised through the upper half of its upward travel, it will be followed by the shaft shown in Fig. 18 which will then be followed by the shaft shown in Fig. 19 which is in turn followed bythe shaft shown in Fig. 20. As will be noted, the lever shafts are raised and lowered in such a manner that the two outside shafts are followed in succession by the two inside shafts, thus insuring ease and smoothness of operation.

Thev forward end of each shaft 67 isrigidly secured to a lug 68 which projects from a disk 69 loosely mounted on the bull-wheel are toothed so as to provide a double face gear, theteeth on one side of this gear being directed oppositely to the teeth on the other side. Disk 69 is positioned intermediate two spaced gears 72 and 73 which are secured on short sleeves 74 feathered on shaft so as to rotate therewith, while having limited movement toward and away from disk 69. As will be noted more .clearly from Fig. 7, the sleeve 74 is of polygonal cross section and the hub of the gear is centrally bored and shaped to snuglyrfit on this sleeve. This sleeve is also formed in two-sections so that, by removing the bull-wheel shaft from blocks 71, and removing the bull Wheels from the ends of the shaft, the gears may be readily removed from the shaft for cleaning, repairs, and similar purposes. The teeth of face gear 72 and the teeth on the adjacent face of disk 69 are so relatively disposed that, when shaft 67 is raised so as to cause partial rotation of disk 69 downwardly and forwardly, gears 72 will be similarly rotated so as to impart downward and forward rotation to bull-wheel shaft .70. This will be clear from Fig. 4 of the drawings in which gear 72 is shown in operative position, gear 73 being shown out of engagement with the teeth on the adjacent face of disk 69. The gears 72 and 73 are forced toward drive gear 69 by leaf springs 76 and 77 which are carried by annular plates 78 and 79, respectively, which are mounted loosely on shaft 70 adjacent the side beams 1 and 2 and intermediate the sleeves 7 4. By moving gears 72 away from their respective disks 69 so as to be out of engagement therewith, and releasing gears 73 so as to permit them to be moved into engagement with theteeth on the adjacent faces of disks 69, the shaft 70 will berotated downwardly and rearwardly during the down stroke of shaft 67, the teeth of disk 69 sliding .over theteeth of gear 73 on the upward stroke, and, when gear 72 is in operative position, the teeth on the ad acent face of vlisk 69 will slide over the teeth of gear]? y this means, the direction of rotation of the on the downward stroke of this lever.

bull wheel shaft and the direction of travel of the tractor can be readily reversed.

z The lever shafts 67 are of relatively great length and the bull wheel shaft 7 provides a fulcrum about which these lever shafts may. rock at their forward ends. By thls construction, due to the greatleverage ekerted by the shaft 67, it is possible to obtam and accurately adjust the'speed of rotation relatively great power from a small initial power, rendering it possible to use an internal combustion engine of standard con struction while producing a'tractor of very great power. By varying the distance of travel vertically, or the throw, of the levers .67 at their rearward ends, the length of the are through which the drive disks 69 are moved may be readily varied. As the speed i of rotation of the gear 72 or 7 3, as the case may be, depends directly upon the speed of oscillation and the amplitude of movement of the disk 69, this renders it possible to vary the bull wheel shaft, I provide the gear changing means illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, to which particular attention is called. A Usupporting frame 80 is secured to side beams 1 and 2 of the main 9 frame and extends above disks 69 and gears 72 and 7 3. The top bar 81 of this frame is in vertical alinement with the bull wheel shaft 70. A plurality of vertical shifting rods 82 are rotatably mounted through bar 81 and project downwardly between peripheral flanges 83 and 84 provided on gear 7 3 and disk 69, respectively. Each of these rods is provided, on its lower ends, with a v shifting head 85 which is disposed at right anglesto the rod and forms therewitha T- member. This head is. of'suchlength, that, when turned into substantial parallelism with bar 81 of frame 80,,its opposite ends engage the flanges 83 and 84 so as to force gear 73 away from disk 69. An operating ,66 arm 86 is secured on the upper end of rod 82 above bar81 of frame 80. The outer ends of these arms are pivotally secured to'an operatingrod 87 one end of which is connected by a tension coil spring 88 to bar 81 adjacent oneendthereof. Shifting rods 89 similar to rods 82 are'mounted in top bar 81'of frame 80 and are provided at their arms 92 secured thereto to an operating rod 93 to which the outer ends of the arms are pivotally secured. One end of this red is connected by a tension coil spring 91 to the frame 80. These coil springs 88 and 94 act to normally hold the rods 87 and 93 in such position as to permit engagementof both of the gears 72 and 7 3 with the opposite gear faces of the double face gear or disk 69. By moving one or the other ofthese rods longitudinally against the tension of its spring, the gears ofeither set of gears desired may be moved out of engagement with the drive disks 69 so as to cause the bull wheel shaft to'be rotated in the direction desired, as previously explained. Also, by properly adjusting both of therods 87 and, 93 both sets of gears may be held out of engagement with the drive disks, thus permitting the disks to idle on the shafts, when this may be desirable or necessary. In Fig. 5, the adjusting rods 82 are shown in such position as to hold the gears 73 out of engagement with disks 69, gears 72 being in engagement with the drive disks or gears.

An operating cable 95 is secured to the other end of bar 87. This cable is passed the tractor and securedto an arm 96 which is secured tothe inner end of the shaft of a hand lever 97 rockably mounted on'a segmental rack 98 secured to frame beam or base 99 of a rack and lever supporting frame indicated generally by 100 which is mounted on side 'beam 1 of the main frame. 'Hand lever 97 is provided with the usual spring pressed detent indicated generally by 102 which cooperates with rack 98 to secure the lever in :rocked adjustment. By. rocking lever 97v downwardly and backwardly into the position shown in Fig. 22, cable 95 will act todraw the rod 87 transversely of the main frame toward the side bar 1.. This results in turning the shifting rods 82'into such position as to force the gears 7 8 out of engagement with the face gears 69. This operation will be clear from Figs. 22 and 5 of the drawings. A. cable 103 is secured to the other endof rod 93 and is passed about suitable guide pulleys and led rearwardly ofthe main frame above side beam 1, thereof, the rearward end of this cable being seabout and over suitable guide pulleys, .ber cured to an arm 104 secured on the shaft 105 of a hand lever 106 which is rockably mounted on the segmental rack 107 carried by frame 100 and is provided with a spring pressed detent designated generally by 108 which engages the raclefor the purpose of securing the lever in ad ustment. By rocking lever 106 downwardly and forwardly into approximately the position shown in Fig. 23 of the. drawings, cable 103 is slacked so as to permit rod 93 to be moved transversely of the same toward slde beam 2 by the action of tension spring 94 thus turning the gear shifting heads 90 of the rods 89 into operative position and permlttmg the gears 72 to be moved into engagement wlth the face gears on the adjacent faces of the drive disks 69, as in Fig. 5 of the drawlngs. By moving both of the levers 97 and 106 downwardly and rearwardly into approximately the position in which lever 97 1s illustrated in Fig. 22, both of the rods 87 and 93 will be moved into their extreme positions toward side beam 1 of the frame thus forcing both sets of gears out of engagement with the drive disk 69 so as to permit these disks to idle upon the bull wheel shaft when it becomes necessary or desirable. By means of the levers 97 and 106 and their cooperating detents, the drive gears may be readily shifted so as to rotate the bull wheel shaft in either direction desired, or so as to disconnect both sets of gears from the drive. disks thus permitting these disks to idle upon the bull wheel shaft.

A bull wheel designated generally by 110 is mounted on the shaft at each end thereof. This bull wheel is provided with a hub 111 having the hub flanges 112 which are connected by the usual hooks and brace rods to tread or rim 113. The inner end of the body of hub 111 is toothed to provide a clutch element 114. This clutch element is adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a co operating clutch member 115 which is feathered on an inner clutch mentber 116 feathered on shaft 70, this inner clutch member being provided with teeth at its outer end which coiiperate with the teeth formed at the inner end of a reduced clutch element 11.7 integral with the body of hub 111 and projecting inwardly beyond clutch element 114-, this reduced member 117 corresponding 1n exterior diameter to the interior diameter of clutch member 115. The teeth of clutch element 11st and clutch member 115 are so disposed as to operatively connect the bull wheel to the shaft when the shaft is rocked or rotated downwardly and rearwardly, clutch member 116 serving to connect the bull wheel to the shaft when. it is rotated downwardly and forwardly as to cause forward travel of the tractor. An annular plate 118 is secured to the outer face of the adj acent side beam of the mam frame and s provided with two outwardly pro ecting d1- ametrically opposite arms 119. Each of these arms is provided with two spaced outwardly directed pins 120 and 121. Pins 120 project through the diametrically opposite which project through diametrically opposite ears 126 of a band 127 which is formed in two sections and secured about the rlutcli member 116, this band being positioned within an annular groove formed adjacent the inner end of the clutch member. These expansion springs act to force the clutch member 116 outwardly so as to hold it normally :in engagement with clutch element 117 of hub 111 of the bull wheel. By this means, the bull at each end of shaft 70 may be connected directly to the shaft so as to be rotated downwardly and forwardly thereby for causing forward travel of the tractor, or they may be connected to the shaft by means of clutch member 115 through clutch members 116 so as to be rotated downwardly and rearwardly to cause rearward travel of the tractor. For this purpose suitable means are provided for moving either pair of the clutch members into or out of operative position and for securing them in inoperative position. 7

Operating cables 128 and 129 (Figs. 4 and 5 and 22 to 21 inclusive,) are secured to the bands 122 and 127 of clutch members 115 and 116, respectively, adjacent side beam 2 of the main frame. These cables are passed about suitable guide pulleys and across the forward end of the main frame, and are then led rearwardly of side beam 1 above the base flange thereof and inside of the web of this beam. Cable 128 is passed upwardly over suitable guide pulleys carried by the frame 100 and through alincd openings in the web or case plate 99 of this frame and the flange of side beam 1, being then secured to the inner end of the head 130 of a T-arm 131 which is secured to the sleeve shaft 132 of a hand lever 133 which is rockably supported by a segmental rack 131 carried by frame 100, this hand lever being provided with a detent which cooperates with the rack to secure the lever in rocked adjustment. Cable 129 is passed upwardly over suitable guide pulleys carried by the frame 100 and is secured to the inner end of head 135 of a T-arm 136 which is secured to the inner end of sleeve shaft 137 of hand lever 138 rockably supported by a rack 139 carried by frame 100 and provided with a detent cooperating with the rack to secure the lever in rocked adjustment. As will be noted more clearly from Fig. 22, the toothed portion of rack 139 so that the two levers 133 and 138 have limited movement in opposite directions and at opposite sides of that 7 vertical plane which connects the centers of these two racks, thus preventing interference I the two clutch members 115 at the opposite sides of the main frame are connected to hand lever 133 so that, by rocking this lever downwardly and rearwardly, and securing it in this position, the clutch members 115 will be secured in inoperative position out of engagement with the clutch elements 114 of the wheels. Band 127 of clutch member 116 adjacentside beaml is connected by a cable 141 to the other end of head 135 of T-arm 136 which is secured to hand lever 138. By rocking hand lever 138 upwardly and rearwardly the two cables 141 and 129 will be tensioned so as to draw the clutch members 116 inwardly out of en gagement with clutch elements 117 of the bull-wheels. When lever 138 is rodked downwardly and forwardly into substantially the position shown in Fig.22, these clutch members are released so as to operatively connect the bull wheels to shaft 7 0 for forward and downward rotation so as to cause forward movement of the tractor, as shown in F ig. 5. By means of these telescoping clutches and the lever and cable control therefor, the bull wheels may be readily connected to the bull wheel shaft so as to cause rotation thereof when the shaft is rotated, or may be secured in inoperative position if desired ornecessary. If desired, the telescoping clutch members may remain in their outermost or operative position, and will thus form automatically actin clutches by means of which the bull wheels will be operatively connected to the bull wheel shaft when it is rotated in either direction, one

set of the clutches being in engagement with the corresponding elements of the hubs of the bull wheels and the other set of clutches sliding over the teeth of the other elements of the hubs of the bull wheel. However, I prefer as a general rule to secure the clutches which are notin use in inoperative position so as to prevent unnecessary wear or rubbing of the clutch faces of the elements.

To enable the speed at which the tractor is operated to be varied,I provide a speed changing mechanism which is illustrated in Fig. Figs. 14 to 17 inclusive, and Figs. 18 w tion by a spring catch 143 secured to disk 57 adjacent the periphery thereof and engaging into an arcuate recess in the underface of pinion 63 (Fig. 25.) This screw 61 has a thread of such a pitch that, whenthe screw is moved through one complete rotation, the block 59, and consequently crank shaft 58, will be moved a predetermined distance, such as three-eighths. of an inch, radially of the disk. By moving the blocks of the disk outwardly or away from the center of the disks, the throw of the free end of lever shaft 67 will be increased thus increasing the amount of movement of the drive disk or gear 69 which results in increased rotation of the bull-wheel shaft thus accomplishing an increase in speed of the tractor. By moving the block 59 toward the center of the disk57, the speed of travel of the tractor will be correspondingly decreased. A sub stantially rectangular frame 144 is secured on the forward portion of cross beam 53. This frame is in alinement with disk 57 and slidably supports two rods 145 and 146, for movement toward and away from the disk. Rod 145 is provided, at its forward end, with an arcuate rack head' 147 which is curved onoan arc corresponding to the distance of pinion 63 from the center of disk 57. Rod 146 is'provided on its inner end with a similar head 148. The inner faces of these two heads are toothed to provide rack surfaces for engagement with pinion 63, as indicated in Fig. 17 These two heads are so spaced as to engage the pinions at opposite sides of the axes thereof when in forward position thus causing the pinion to be rotated in one direction by one head,

and inthe opposite direction when it engages the other head. The rack heads are, preferably of such length as to move the pinion 63, and consequently the adjusting screw 61, through one complete rotation for each rotation of disk 57. Rod 145 is normally forced forward by an expansion coil spring 149 mounted about the rod and confined between a collar 150 secured on the rod ,and the inner end arm 151 of the frame 144. Rod 146 is forced forwardly in a similar manner by a coil expansion spring 152. These two rods are secured-against rotary movement by pin and slot means, or in any other suitable manner so as to insure that the rack heads carried thereby will at all timesbe disposed in vertical position. The rearward portion of rod 146 is centrally recessed and slotted to receive a latch 153 which is rockably mounted therein. This latch is provided with a head 154 which projects below rod 146 so as to engage the inner wall 151 of frame 144 thus securing the rod against forward movement, as in Fig. 17. The forward end of latch is normally held in raised position so as to hold the head 154 in depressed position by means of a leaf spring 155 engaging the underface of stem 156 of the latch. Rod 145 is held in retracted position by a similar latch designated generally by 157. Normally, both of the rods 145 and 146 will be held in retracted position so as {t0 prevent engagement of pinion 63 with either of the rack heads 147 or 148 when the disk is rotated. When it is desired to alter the speed of travel of the tractor, one of the rods will be released so as to permit engagement of the rack head carried thereby by pinion 63 so as to shift the crank shaft 58 either toward or away from the center of disk 57, dependingupon whether it is desired to increase or diminish the speed of travel.

In practice, I provide both of the frames 144 with corresponding rods, rack heads, latches and associated parts. Eachof the frames 144 is provided, at its rearward end, with an integral rearwardly projecting block 158 having an integral finger 159 projecting rearwardly therefrom. The blocks 158 rockably support a tripping shaft 160 which extendstransversely of the frame. This shaft is provided witha plurality of spaced tripping cams 161 secured thereon and adapted to engage the heads 154 of thelatches 153 when shaft 160 is rocked downwardly and rearwardly so as to raise the same. This operation will be clear from Fig. 17 of the drawings. A similar shaft 162 is rotatably supported in the rearwardly projecting fin gers 159 and is provided with tripping cams 163, for raising the latches 157 to release rods 145. If it is desired to increase the speed of the tractor, rod 162 is rocked so as to release the plunger rods 145 thus permitting rack head 147 to be moved forwardly into position for engagement by the pinion 63, of the disk 57. This forward movement of each of the rods 145 is positively limited by the collar 150 so as to insure that the head will be brought into position for proper engagement by the pinion, as indicated in Figs. 14 and 15. As disk 57 rotates a pinion 63 will engage the rack head 147 so as to be turned through a complete rotation in a'clockwise direction thus moving the blocks 59, and consequently crank shaft 58, away from the center of the disk so as to increase the speed of the tractor. After the pinion has been thus rotated, it will be lockedagainst rotation by the springlatch 143 previously referred to. Disk 57 is provided, at each side, withthis head and the'rod 145 to inoperative position, in which position they are retained by the latch157. If it is desired to decrease the speed of travel, this is accomfl plishedby rocking rod 160 so as to release the rods 146 when pinion 63 will engage rack head 148 so as to be rotated thereby in a counter-clockwise direction, thus moving the blocks 59 toward the center ofthe disk instead of away from it, rod 146 and rack head 148 being then returned to inoper-ative position bythe lug 164 in which position they are secured by the latch 153.

An arm 166 is secured on one end of shaft 7 160. A tripping lever 167 has its rearward end pivotally secured to the upper end of arm 166. This lever is operable in a guide frame 168 securedtomain frame beam 1 and provided with a vertical slot 169- which receives a lever, the outer bar 170 of this frame being provided within a short distance from its upper end with a recess 171 contiguous to slot 169. This recess is adapted to receive a spring latch 172 secured to the inner face of bar 170 adjacent the upper end thereof. This latch is rovided, at its lower end, with an inwar l'y directed head 173, the lower face of which is inclined downwardly and outwardly. When tripping'lever 167 is raised into its uppermost position, head 173 engages under this lever so as to maintain'it in raised position.

A similar tripping lever 174 is pivotally se cured at its rearward end to an arm 175 "w hich is secured to shaft 162. Lever174 is operable in the vertical slot 176 in and is normally held in raised position by the spring latch 177 which corresponds to latch 172. Releasing rod 178 projects through slot 169 above tripping lever 167 and adjacent the upper end of latch 172,

guide frame 168 the forward end portion of this rod being,

rotatably supported by the cross pieces 179' secured to the frame. Rod 178 carries a releasing cam 180 which is normally directed downwardly so as to be out of'engagement with latch 172. A similar releasing rod 181 projects through the upper portion of slot 176 and is provided with a downwardly directed cam 182 for moving latch 177 into inoperative position. Rod'178 is securedto'a hand lever 183 which is'rockably supported on a standard 184 carried tioned adjacent a segmental rack 185 and i is provided with a spring pressed detent which cotiperates with the rack. to secure the lever in rocked adjustment. Rod 181 is similarly secured to a hand' 'lever 186 which is mounted. at the opposite'side of standard 184' from lever183 and'is' provided" releasing the tripping lever .174: which will,

be operated in a manner to be described to rock shaft 162 in such direction as to re-v lease the rods1 15 Ifit is desired to decrease the speed of travel, hand lever is rocked downwardly and. inwardly thus bringing into engagement with spring latch 17 2 and forcing this latch into go the recess 171 so as to release lever 167 as i Figs; 14 and '16. when lever 167 is released, it drops into such position as to rest uponfthe tripping cam 188 which is secured upon the outer end ofstub shaft 55.

This cam is provided with a shoulder 189 which is adapted to engage a cooperating shoulder 190 provided adjacent the ,for wardend of lever 167. i When the shoulder of the cam engages the shoulder of the lever theleverwill be rocked or forced rearwardly a sufficient distance to rock shaft 160rdownwardly and rearwardly so as to bring the 4 tripping cams carried thereby into engagement with the heads 154: of the latches 153 thus releasing rods 1? 16 and per mitting the rack head 148 carr1ed thereby to be moved into position for engagement with the pinions 68 so as to cause rotation,

of the, setting screw 61 in the manner described. 7 After shaft 160 has thus been rockedQthe shoulder of the cam will pass out of engagementwith the shoulder of the tripping shaft or bar which will then r 1de upon the rim of .the cam. This bar being 15 moved forwardly by means of a tension CO-ll spring 193 secured thereto and to frame 168 so as to return releasing oams 161 of shaft16O to normal orinoperative position. This. cam is provided withan extended por- Y tion or nose 191 which is of such length and v so relatively disposed as to engage the tripping bar 16.7..and raise it into inoperatlve position after the adjusting screw 61 has been rotated and rackhead148 has been" returned to inoperative posltion, the tr1pping bar being maintained in raised r orinoperative position by the spring latch 172 until'again released in the manner described.

If it is :desired to increase thespeed of to travel, t p e. 17 releasedlani will beactuated in thefsamemanner as bar 167 by means of the cam 18 8 torelease the rods 1&5 and rack h ead 14:7 carried therebyrso as to cause rotation of screw 61in thegoptiev e cee, aft rvhidel e 6 and;

construction and arrangement of the varack heads will be retained in inoperative] position as previously described. Al tension coilspring 194 is secured to bar 17 4t and to frame 168 and acts to cause forward movement of this bar when released from the shoulder of cam: 188 so as to return 2' cams. 165 to normal position. By this arrangement, a predetermined increase ordecrease inthe speed may be readily obtained. Of course; by secur-ingeither of the levers 183 or l86 in such position as to maintain the corresponding tripping bar in lowered or operative position, the speed of the trac-j tor will be either increased or diminished a predetermined amount for-each complete 30 rotation of the disk 57. j When the desiredspeed has been attained, the .leverjmaybe raisedv into such position as to;,causethe tripping rod to'be retainediin inoperative position, after which the speed which has 35- been attained will be -maintained until further adjustment is made. By. having the crank shaft 58 movable radially. of disk 57, I attain a very wide range of adjust-1i ment in speed, while rendering it possibleco to so reduce the speed as to obtain very great power when required. "Also, by this construction of the speed changing mechanism; accurate and very slight adjustment in the speedof travel of thetractor; may be read ily obtained. Suitable hoods or covers are provided over and about the driving and speed changing mechanisms andover the drive gearing, ,to prevent entry of dust,- grit, and other foreign materials.-

vl/Vhile I have illustrate'd and described in detail the construction of the various mecha nisms, ofmy tractor it will be'evident that there may be slight changes made in the i rious parts of my invention without departing from the field and scope ofthe same, and I intend to include all such variations in this application as fall within the oftheappended claims.

,What I claim is:- I

.1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a driven shaft, driving scope disks loosely mounted thereon and having oppositely directed teeth on opposite sides,

asourceof power, and connectionsgbetween said source and disks for oscillating the latter;of face gears feathered on said shaft atopposite sides of. the disks, springsbearing them normally toward the {disks and i their teeth into engagement with the teeth on the disks, means between each disk: and s its respective'gears for moving the latter outward when desired, and manually op'erable mechanisms for actuatingsaidmeans, for thepurpose set forth.

Q. In a tractor, a bull wheel-shaft, driver disks loosely mounted on the shaft'so as-to be oscillatable thereon, the jfopposite faces of each disk? beingv provided with outwardly 130 V directed teeth so as to provide oppositely directed face gears, face gears positioned adjacent each side of said disk and feathered on the shaft so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the face gears of the disk, means for oscillating said disk, and means for moving said face gears into and out of engagement with the face gears of the drive disk so as to cause rotation of the shaft in either direction desired when said disks are oscillated.

3. In a tractor, a bull wheel shaft, disks loosely mounted on said shaft so as to be freely oscillatable about the same, each of said disks having its opposite faces provided with outwardly directed teeth so as to provide oppositely directed face gears, face gears positioned adj acent the opposite faces of each of said disks, said face gears being feathered on the shaft, yielding means for forcing said face gears into engagement with the face gears of the disks, and means for optionally moving either of said face gears away from said disks.

4. In a tractor, a bull wheel shaft, drive disks loosely mounted on said shaft, each having oppositely directed teeth on its opposite sides, face gears mounted adjacent both sides of the disks and feathered on the shaft, means for normally forcing said face gears toward the disks, T members having their heads between said gears and disks, means for oscillating said disks, and means for operating said T-members optionally so as to force either of the face gears away from the disks,

5. In a tractor, a bull Wheel shaft, drive disks loosely mounted on said shaft so as to be oscillatable about the same, each of said disks being provided with oppositely directed teeth on its opposite sides so as to provide oppositely directed face gears, face. gears mounted adjacent each side of the drive disks and feathered on the shaft so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the face gears of said disks, means for normally forcing said face gears toward the disks so as to be in engagement therewith, the face gears and the disks being provided with outwardly projecting annular flanges, T-members mounted about said gears and disks and having their heads positioned intermediate the flanges thereof and of such length that when directed in parallelism with the axis of said shaft, they will engage the flanges,

of the disks and face gears so as to force the face gears out of engagement with the disks, means for oscillating said disks, and means for operating said T-members so as to force either of the face gears on the shaft away from the disks so as to cause rotation of the shaft in either direction desired when said disks are'oscillated.

6. In a tractor, a frame, a bull wheel shaft rotatably supported thereby, a lever fulcrumed at its forward end foroscillatory movement, a pair of driving disks rotatably supported by the frame and provided with axially extending alined slots, blocks slidable in said slots, a shaft carried by said blocks, connections between said shaft and the rearward end of the lever so as to cause oscillatory movement of thelever when the disks are rotated, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against aX-i'al movement for adjusting the blocks radially of the disks so as to vary the amplitude of oscillation of the lever, pinions secured on said screw, and rack heads movable into' and out of position for engagement by said pinions when the disks are rotated so as to cause predetermined rotary movement of the screws for adjusting said blocks a predetermined distance radially of the disks.-

7. In a tractor, a frame, a shaft rotatably supported thereby, a lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishing driving connections between said lever and shaft for causing rotation of the shaft when the lever is oscillated, a pair of driving disks rotatably supported by the frame, said disks being provided with radial alined slots, a shaft mounted between said disks and provided at its ends with blocks slidable in the slots of the disks, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against axial movement for adjusting the blocks radially of the disks when the screws are rotated, adjusting pinions secured on said screws,- rack heads movable into and out of position for engagement by said pinions when the disks are rotated, means for re leasably securing said rack heads in inoperative position, means for moving the rack heads into operative position when released, and means for returning the rack heads to inoperative position after engagement of the same by the pinions. A

8. In a tractor, a frame, a shaft rotatably supported thereby, a lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishing driving connections between said lever and shaft for causing rotation of the shaft when the lever is oscillated, a pair of driving disks rotatably supported by the frame, said disks being provided with radially alined slots, a shaft mounted between said disks and provided at its ends with blocks slidable in the slots of the disks, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against axial movement for adjusting the blocks radially of the disks when the screws are rotated, adjusting pinions secured on said screws, rack heads movable into and out of position for engagement by said pinions when the disks are rotated, means for releasably securing said rack heads in inoperative position, means for moving the rack heads into operative position when released, and means carried by the disks and engageable with the rack heads for returning the same in inoperative position.

9. In a tractor, a frame, a shaft rotatably supported thereby, an operating lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishingdriving connections between said lever and shaft for causing rotation of the shaft when the lever is oscillated, spaced axially alined driving disks rotatably supported by the frame and provided with radially extending alined slots, a shaft mounted between said disks and provided at its ends with blocks slidable in the disks, connections between'said shaft and the rearward end of the operating lever for causing oscillatory movement of the lever when the disks are rotated, adjustting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against longitudinal movement v for adjusting the blocks radially of the disks when said screws are rotated, means for normally securing the ad usting screws agalnst rotation, pinions on the screws, and

. racks movable into engagement with the pinions for optionallyv causing predetermined rotation of the adjusting screws in either direction so as to adjust the blocks radially of the disks. I

10. In a tractor, a frame, a shaft rotatably supported thereby, an operating lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishing driving connections between said shaft and lever for causing rotation of the shaft when the lever is oscillated about its fulcrum,-a pair of driving disks rotatably mounted in said frame in axial alinement and'provided with radially extending alined slots, a shaft provided at its ends with blocks slidable in the slots of said disks, connections between said shaft and the rearward end of the operating lever for causing oscillatory movement of the lever when the disks are rotated, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against axial movement for adjusting the blocks radially of the disks, pinions secured on said screws and of greater diameter than the thickness of the disks, pairs of rack heads positioned adjacent the disks and movable into and out of position for engagement by the said pinions, the rack heads of each pair being independently movable and being spaced apart the diameter of the corresponding pinion so as to engage the pinion at either side of its axis when in operative position and cause rotation of the adjusting screw in either'direction desired, means for moving the rack head into operatime position when released, and means for returning said rack head to inoperative position after engagement therewith by said pinion.

11. In a tractor, a frame, a bull wheel shaft rotatably supported thereby, an operating lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishing driving connections between said lever and the bull wheel shaft for causing rotation of the shaft when the lever is oscillated, a pair of axially alined spaced driving disks rotatably' supported by the frame, said disks being provided with radially alined slots, a shaft provided vat its ends with blocks slidable in said slots, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against axial movement for adj usting the blocks radially of the disks when the screws are rotated, adjusting pinions secured on the outer ends of said screws beyond the periphery of the disks, rack heads movable into position for engagement by said pinions when the disks are rotated so as to cause predetermined rotary movement of the adjusting screws, means for securing said rack heads in inoperative position, means operable by the disks for releasing the rack heads when the disks have reached a predetermined rotary position so as to cause the pinions to engage said rack heads, means for returning the rack heads to inoperative position after engagement thereby with the pinions, and means for returning said releasing means to inoperative position.

12. In a tractor, a frame, a bull wheel shaft rotatably supported thereby, an operating lever fulcrumed at its forward end for oscillatory movement, means for establishing driving connections between said lever and the shaft for causing rotation of said shaft when the lever is oscillated at its fulcrum, a pair of driving disks rotatably supported by the frame and provided with radially extending alined slots, a shaft mounted between said disks and provided at its ends with blocks slidable in the slots, adjusting screws threaded through said blocks and secured against axial movement, pinions secured on said screws beyond the peripheries of the disks, supporting frames mounted in alinement with said disks, rods slidable in said frame toward and away from the disks and provided on their forward ends with rack heads spaced apart the samedistance as the diameter of the pinions, said heads being movable into and out of position for engagement by the pinions when the disks are rotated, means for normally forcing the rods carrying therack heads toward the disks, releasable latches carried by said rods acting to normally se- 

